Rostrum of Asclepius Vol 14, No. 2 (2015): April - June 2015

Introduction: Central venous catheters (CVC) are part of daily clinical practice, regarding treatment of critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Infections associated with CVC, are a serious cause of morbidity and mortality, thus making as a demanding need the adoption of clinical protocols for the care in ICU. Aim: The aim of this review was to explore the nursing care to prevent CVC’s infections in ICU. Method and material: The methodology followed included reviews and research studies. The studies were carried out during the period 2000-2014 and were drawn from foreign electronic databases (Pubmed, Medline, Cochrane) and Greek (Iatrotek), on the nursing care of CVC, in the ICU to prevent infections. Results: The literature review showed that the right choice of dressings on the point of entry, the antiseptic treatment solution, the time for replacement infusion sets, the flushing of central venous catheter, the hand disinfection and finally the training of nursing staff, are the key points to prevent CVC’s infections in ICU. Conclusions: Education and compliance of nurses regarding the instructions of CVC's care, are the gold standard in the prevention of infections.

Keywords: International guidelines, CVC’s infections in ICU, CVC’s nursing care.

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) dramatically affects the wellbeing of patients by leading to disabilities, poor quality-of-life and reduced life expectancy. The morbidity and chronic nature of the disease inevitably affect the psyche and behavior of both patients and their families. Objective: To review the existing literature in order to highlight the psychosocial areas which are mainly affected by SCD with respect to the patients, the cohesion and functionality of their families and the interpersonal relations between family members. Materials and Methods: Both original research and review papers published in the last 30 years were searched within the PubMed database with particular emphasis on publications since 2000. The term SCD was combined with the following key words: coping, psychosocial problems, depression, and psychological problems. Selection of articles was based on representativeness and methodological adequacy. Results: High rates of anxiety, depression, behavioral problems and difficulties in interpersonal relationships are observed in SCD patients. SCD also affects family function and coherence. A well built social welfare system (network) can play a protective role. Despite the extensive documentation of psychological problems in patients with SCD, proper emphasis on prevention, etiological and holistic treatment and shielding of these families is lacking in daily clinical practice. Conclusions: The therapeutic approach of patients with SCD should always include the timely identification of dysfunctions in both children and their families and attempt to reduce the disproportionate burden that they are forced to withstand.

Keywords: Sickle cell anemia, family, psychosocial effects.

Introduction: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted diseases in both men and women worldwide. Aim: The investigation of the knowledge of university students and their mothers about the HPV, the ways of transmission, prevention and vaccination. Material and Method: The studied population consisted of 605 students from Technological Educational Institute of Athens and 50 mothers which filled two different questionnaires with closed-ended questions. Data was statistically processed with Microsoft Excel and SPSS ver.20. Results: Although, a large percentage (84.5%) of the questioned students were sexually active, the majority of them (67.7%) had never done the human papilloma virus vaccine and they didn’t intended to do it (87.9%). Although questioned mothers were aware that both girls and boys should be vaccinated against HPV infection (83.7%), only 71.4% of them had vaccinated their children, because of their fear of possible side effects (p0.05). Conclusion: Although students and mothers were aware of the HPV and its prevention, they were not familiar with the safety and the effectiveness of the vaccine, maybe because more students had been informed about the HPV from their family mostly than their gynecologist.

Keywords: Human papilloma virus, vaccination, prevention, ways of transmission

Although there is a lot of research done in the area of volunteering, little has been written about the factors that can affect all potential volunteers, so they can be inspired to become volunteers, and for those who are already active volunteers to work as an inspiration to potential volunteers. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the views of nursing students on volunteering. Material and Method: Semi-structured interviews with 10 nursing students were the main data collection tool. Grounded Theory method was used for the analysis of qualitative data. Results-Conclusions: This study demonstrated that volunteering is part of students’ everyday life and also the important role of nursing science in shaping their attitude towards volunteering. Data analysis revealed five categories, which are presented as stages I, II, III, IV of the "flowering of volunteering". The voluntary action and the factors that contribute to the development of the "flowering of volunteering" are going through these stages. The stages of the development of voluntary action likened to the stages of plant growth, as there are many similarities between “the blooming” of the ideas that affect participation in volunteering and the stages of plants’ flowering

Keywords: Volunteering, nursing students, flowering, qualitative research

Anesthesiology is a medical specialty with rapid development in the recent decades. The work of anesthetists, however, is not recognized in the medical circles and research reports that patients have incomplete knowledge about anesthesia and the anesthesiologist. Purpose: The purpose of the present research was to assess the views of patients and doctors of other specialties in Greece, for the role of the anesthesiologist and anesthesia. Material and Methods: The study was conducted at the General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou, with the use of questionnaires, during January-March 2014, and data were analyzed with SPSS 15. The study included 100 participants from the surgical clinics and 50 doctors from other specialties. Results: The vast majority of patients (> 90%), who took part in the research, are aware that the anesthesiologist is a physician but are not aware of the specific tasks undertaken in the peri-operative period. Also, they have knowledge for several of their out of surgery activities, except from their involvement in the radiology department (16%), the pain clinic (23%) and the psychiatric clinic (20%). The same lack of knowledge is evident for the latter by the other physicians too (only 22% was aware) as well as for the necessary preoperative withhold of food and drink (34%), and the involvement of anesthesiologist in cardiology (44%), psychiatric (22%) clinics and radiology department (42%). However, they are generally aware of most of anesthesiologist’s tasks and anesthesia’s complications. Conclusions: The research shows the need to intensify efforts from anesthesiologists to inform patients about issues related to anesthesiology. Doctors of other specialties lack expertise in specific issues of anesthesiology; therefore they need additional training in order to contribute in informing patients

Keywords: Anesthesiology, patient perceptions, physicians’ perceptions, anesthesiologists role

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. On the April 18nth 2014, a laboratory- confirmed case of MERS-CoV infection was reported in Athens, Greece in a patient returning from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Within two days the patient was transferred to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Chest Infection hospital of Athens. In this article we report the procedure followed the period since patient’s hospitalization in a negative pressure room until his transfer to general ICU where his laboratory results were twice negative for MERS-CoV

Keywords: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, MERS-CoV, infection control, nursing care, protection measure